This case has been cited 2 times or more.
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2012-04-11 |
DEL CASTILLO, J. |
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| The Court agrees with the CA. The issue of ownership and liquidation of properties acquired during the cohabitation of Eiji and Evelyn has been submitted for the resolution of the Makati RTC, and is pending[41] appeal before the CA. The doctrine of judicial stability or non-interference dictates that the assumption by the Makati RTC over the issue operates as an "insurmountable barrier" to the subsequent assumption by the Parañaque RTC.[42] By insisting on ruling on the same issue, the Parañaque RTC effectively interfered with the Makati RTC's resolution of the issue and created the possibility of conflicting decisions. Cojuangco v. Villegas[43] states: "The various branches of the [regional trial courts] of a province or city, having as they have the same or equal authority and exercising as they do concurrent and coordinate jurisdiction, should not, cannot and are not permitted to interfere with their respective cases, much less with their orders or judgments. A contrary rule would obviously lead to confusion and seriously hamper the administration of justice." The matter is further explained thus: It has been held that "even in cases of concurrent jurisdiction, it is, also, axiomatic that the court first acquiring jurisdiction excludes the other courts." | |||||